from our right leaning ABC …..

The Prime Minister says unless there is heavy rain in the Murray-Darling catchment within weeks, the only water that will be available will be for town use and there will be none for irrigation.

"We should all pray for rain because the situation for the farmers of Australia in the irrigation area, the Murray-Darling Basin, is critical," Mr Howard said.

But Democrats Senator Lyn Alison says praying for rain is not good enough.

"I think that's a ridiculous notion," she said.